DALLAS (SMU) - Rusty Burns has joined the SMU football staff as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Head Coach Phil Bennett announced Thursday, Jan. 8.

Burns arrives on the Hilltop after two seasons as offensive coordinator at Cincinnati, where he led the Bearcats to the 2002 Conference USA championship and to school records for passing yards, total offense and points. Burns' spread attack led C-USA in both total offense (397.5 ypg) and passing offense (260.6 ypg) in 2002, and under his tutelage quarterback Gino Guidugli earned All-Conference honors. It was his second stint at UC as he served as quarterbacks coach from 1989-91.

A 25-year collegiate coaching veteran, Burns, 48, also served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Wyoming (1999-2001) and worked as offensive coordinator at Springfield College (1978-79), Connecticut (1980-88) and Memphis (1996-98) and as assistant coach at Georgia Tech (1992-94).

In his two-year tenure at Wyoming, Burns was credited with developing All-Mountain West Conference quarterback Casey Bramlet, who threw for 3,069 yards and ranked 14th in the nation in total offense in 2001. His transformation of the offensive attack led to the Cowboys having the most improved offense in the conference in 2001.

A 1978 graduate of Springfield College with a degree in physical education and a concentration on English, he earned his master's in guidance and psychological services and admissions from Springfield in 1979. Burns and his wife, Debra, have two daughters, Kelly (12) and Kirsten (10).